Northwood’s Positioning Statement: 2008 and Beyond

I am pleased to report on June 2, 2008 our Board of Trustees unanimously approved our strategic plan titled Northwood’s Positioning Statement: 2008 and Beyond.  Details and discussions will occur over the next 90 days, but this should serve as a wholehearted THANK YOU to all of you who participated in the development of our strategy.  Our Board was very impressed by the process and the strategy itself and I’m thankful for your engagement as we have crafted the plan over the last several months.

As you may recall, the inclusive Northwood Strategy Planning Process (NSPP) is based on the DeVos Strategy Model and allowed us to gather honest assessment, operating unit faculty and staff input, alumni feedback, and market data.  This process led to a dynamic plan with market-based objectives. 

There are many initiatives in the plan but let me share with you the Board of Trustees and our Officer Team are focused on quality and academic reputation as our number one priority.  Our plan will be iterative, will respond to market opportunities, and is deeply rooted in a continuous improvement environment which will maintain and strengthen academic quality.  

Building on the work of our Academic Quality Improvement Process (AQIP) Action Project which helped reshape our Mission and BHAG (big, hairy audacious goal) in spring 2007, we gained a vast amount of ground over the past year with work done by AQIP teams, the AQIP Systems Portfolio and the NSPP.  Given the competitive nature of each of the states in which we operate, significant opportunities continuously present themselves to build strength in our quality efforts and to gain further ground in the market. 

Our Board is committing to a model of three full-service residential campuses and integrated adult learning opportunities delivered through the DeVos Graduate School and University College.  We will begin to focus on strategic themes and accompanying actions to:

• enhance the learning environment,
• nurture a learning organization,
• cultivate student growth – quality and quantity,
• continue aggressive branding/marketing efforts, and
• execute an Advancement/Alumni plan.

Each of these strategic themes includes actions associated within and across all our operating units – investments associated with people, processes, structures and the physical environment.  As I hope you have experienced over the past year, our culture is moving to one of strategic thinking and continuous improvement.  It is also one of acknowledging where we are in our journey. Along these lines, the dashboard process of measurement will be a key tool to track our progress and we will utilize champions to help guide our strategies.

Again, thank you for the energy, effort and ideas that went into the NSPP and Northwood’s Positioning Statement: 2008 and Beyond. As we move into the 2008-09 academic year, I look forward to an even higher level of energy and enthusiasm when we implement the Plan and execute the tactics within it. The Plan will only be as good as our execution of it!

Enjoy the weekend.

Keith A. Pretty, J.D.
President and CEO
Northwood University
4000 Whiting Drive
Midland, MI 48640
989.837.4203 (phone)
989.832.9590 (fax)